Increased flows let ODFW open the Chetco River a week early

GOLD BEACH, Ore. – With higher water flows in the Chetco River, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reopens chinook and steelhead fishing beginning Saturday, October 30.

Coastal chinook regulations adopted in June by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission included a low flow closure on the Chetco River effective through Nov. 5.  However, the closure will be lifted Oct. 30 thanks to late October rains and increased river flows.

River flows exceeded 7,000 cfs on Oct. 24 and are expected to remain above 2,500 cfs through Oct. 29. More rain is forecasted, and fall chinook have moved upstream from tidewater.

“The concern with over-harvesting chinook that were holding in the upper tidewater area is gone now that the fish can spread out into spawning areas throughout the mainstem and tributaries,” said Todd Confer, Gold Beach District Fish Biologist.

Following is angling information:

• Mainstem Chetco River re-opens for chinook and steelhead beginning Oct. 30, with a bag limit of two salmon or steelhead daily and 20 /season.
• The Chetco Estuary downstream of river mile 2.2 also remains open for chinook and steelhead.
• As a reminder, the Winchuck remains closed to angling through November 5.

Detailed coastal fall chinook fishery information is on the ODFW web site.

Contact:

Todd Confer (541) 247-7605
Fax: (541) 673-0372